Children from divorced families are more likely to have
academic problems. They are more likely to be aggressive
and get in trouble with school authorities or the
police. These children are more likely to have low
self-esteem and feel depressed. Children who grow up in
divorced families often have more difficulties getting
along with siblings, peers, and their parents. Also, in
adolescence, they are more likely to engage in
delinquent activities, to get involved in early sexual
activity, and to experiment with illegal drugs. In
adolescence and young adulthood, they are more likely to
have some difficulty forming intimate relationships and
establishing independence from their families.

Robert Hughes, Jr., Ph.D., Former
Professor, Department of Human Development & Family
Studies, College of Human Environmental Sciences,
University of Missouri